Online cattle market gains momentum

As Eid-ul-Azha is a week away, the online cattle market becomes popular in Khulna, Gazipur and Meherpur as this practice ensures maintenance of health rules and social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Khulna, At least 76 cows and 33 goats worth over Tk 1.5 crore have been sold so far after the online platform-based sacrificial cattle market mobile app  namely “Online Qurbani Hat Khulna” was launched on July 8, according to the Khulna Livestock Office,

To ensure maintenance of health rules and social distancing, the district administration in association with the Khulna City Corporation and the Khulna Livestock Office launched.

Local officials of the government livestock department verify the health status of each animal before sale.

The cattle farmers are putting age, variety, weight and other information about the animal on the apps while buyers are putting orders online for buying sacrificial animals.

Employees of the district's Union Digital Centres are helping cattle farmers to put necessary information of their animals on the apps.

Apart from the apps, a website titled qurbanihatkhulna.com was launched for sale of sacrificial animals in Khulna.

Arun Kanti, additional livestock officer of Khulna, said buyers are getting their desired cattle  while farmers are also getting a chance to buy their animals through the apps from their homes. 

"After knowing the age, variety, weight and other information on the animal,  buyers contact farmers and purchase sacrificial animals from them." he added.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Helal Hosen said the app was launched for sale of sacrificial animals keeping the matter of health rules and social distancing.

In Meherpur, the district administration in association with Livestock Office launched an online platform-based sacrificial cattle market on Facebook.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Toufiqur Rahman said that a Facebook page tilted "Online Qurbanir Poshur Haat, Meherpur was launched on July 13  for the sale of sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

The farmers who want to sell their animals can put up information including photos on the page. The district administration is working as a moderator of the page, he added.

Sadar upazila's cattle farmer Rafiqul Islam  who had put up information and pictures of his cattle on the page, said:" I have 12 cows. Last year, I could not  sell them as the market price was comparatively low. Let’s see what happens this time."

Around 10000 cows and 20000 goats were reared in the district, according to the Meherpur Livestock office.

In Gazipur, as customers  are not interested to buy cattle from the market directly due to Covid-19 this year, many farmers in the district are selling their cattle online.

To this end, farmers are campaigning online vigorously with their cattle's picture and information regarding weight. variety and price.

Cattle farmer Jashim Uddin said: " I have posted the picture of my cow with a price tag of Tk 120,000 on my Facebook account. But the price can be reduced through bargaining."

Another farmer Aynul Haque from Kapasia's Singhsree area said : "I have 20 cows in my farm and posted their details online with my mobile number. “

"Five of my cows have already been booked for sale," he added. 

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner SM Tariqul Islam said: "I have already spoke to many farmers who are worried about their sale of cattle, as the situation is quite different from last year. So we have asked the cattle farmers to focus on the online market."

Our Correspondents Hedait Hossain Molla, Khulna, Ashraful Islam, Meherpur and Raihanul Islam Akand contributed to this report